Presentation Details

Abstract Resume

Background:The professionalism of sports activities began mainly with the systematization of European Gymnastics Methods, in which those proposals commenced to be scientifically
proven. As a result, the expansion of the sport had been defending in diverse policy areas- such as education and health - which required a sports organization in different aspects. One of them turned
to the professional athlete, whose involvement in a particular practice has become, mostly, unique and linked to labor rights, such as receiving salaries, vacation and bonus. In some cases, athletes
have received salaries in a season or particular event, according to specific championships regulations.
Methods:In this research, we expose the opinion of coaches with significant results in “Jogos Regionais” and “Jogos Abertos”, both championships between cities and villages from São
Paulo state that includes several sports embracing men´s artistic gymnastics and women´s artistic gymnastics. Seventeen coaches from seventeen cities were interviewed, represented by first to third
place in the two categories (free and sub14) in MAG and WAG, in both division in the year 2014. Data were collected through semi-structured open questions and the analysis was done by Content
Analysis, in which different themes were elucidated, among them hiring athletes.
Results:As a result, we observed a constant dichotomy (good x bad) of coaches’ opinion. The positive side refers to the fact that to hire motivate athletes who are not part of the
core team in the city he/she trains- which would take him/her to the secondary team- and athletes in burnout and/or retirement, to postpone those processes, remaining active. Moreover, it allows some
cities participate in events with complete teams, by hiring and/or lend a gymnast. By contrast, hiring athletes obscures and falsifies the sports policy for AG, because sometimes the city on the
podium does not have artistic gymnastics gym, coach, and even a gymnast. It is important to reveal that the purpose of those championships is to expand the practice of different sports in São Paulo
state and therefore hiring athletes inhibit this development.
Conclusions:The coaches provided solutions and suggestions: encourage coaches with greater quantitative athletes to organize the participation of the secondary team in other types of
events such as the Municipal Leagues and inhibit hiring entire teams, it means, do not authorize more than half of the team from other cities and/or states.